We have just returned from Iran as part a Global Exchange "Citizen Diplomacy" Delegation.  The fourteen of us traveled throughout the country for a little over two weeks.  What Leslie and I discovered was not at all what we were expecting.  The Iranians we met were warm, welcoming, generous, and MOSTLY CHILDREN!

Click here if you'd like to see some pictures of these beautiful people.

70% of the population is under the age of 30.  This fact touched us deeply because our sons are in this age group.  We were constantly welcomed by families, students on field trips and university kids eager to talk!  A simple "Salam" on our part would lead to smiles and unending questions about where we were from, why we've come, and what do we plan to do when we get back to the United States.

They expressed their love for America.  They know that the American people are different from our government and mentioned often how upset they were with their own government.  The Iranian people want PEACE!  They know that our government portrays them as terrorists and they would ask what we thought?  We would answer, "We've never been treated so kindly or felt so welcome!"  They would smile and respond, "We hope you enjoy our country!"

People were constantly engaging us in conversation.  Leslie talked with a young woman whose friend was part of a group bicycling around the world for peace.  This is their message: Iranians are peaceful, they love other nations, and they want to be a constructive member of the international community.  For more, please visit their website: http://www.milesforpeace.org/home.php

The Bush administration has failed in Iraq and now it's looking for a scapegoat.  They lied about the justifications for invading Iraq and now they're lying about Iran.  These sweet people are not our enemy.  Iran hasn't attacked another country in over 200 years.  We might not like the leadership of Iran, but the people are not the government! 

Leslie is currently staying at the CodePink house in Washington DC. She is in the 5th day of her second fast to encourage Senator Lieberman to talk with her about using diplomacy rather than military force to solve our problems with Iran.  Please go here to read more about what Leslie's doing and then go here for a summary by Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink.  After the initial encounter with Senator Lieberman's chief of staff, legislative director and his legislative aide, an Iranian woman approached Leslie and said, "Thank you for what you did today. You've done a lot for the Iranian people."

Doing what we can to be the change ... 

Peace and Freedom.

Jes & Leslie
www.jfpf.org/

... Payvand News - 12/03/07 ...